Combined hand-rail and trap-door fastening.



W. H; MUSSEY.

COMBINED HAND RAIL AN D TRAP DOOR FASTENING.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1912.

Patented F6114, 1913.

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COMBINED HAND RAIL AND TRAP DOOR FASTENING. APPLIUATION FILED MAY 17, 1912 I 1 52,66. Patented F9114, 1913;

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W. H. MUSSEY.

COMBINED HAND RAIL AND TRAP DOOR FASTENING.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1912.

Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

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COMBINED'HAND-RAIL AND TRA -noon FASTENING accesses.

' Specification of Letters lE'atent.

Que of the ob ects of the invention isto "provide a grab-iron combined with a trapv door fastening, the. relative position of the iatter being such that it lies substantially concealed and protected from accidental disengagement. 1

A further object of the invention; is to combine a grab-iron and trap-door fastening in order to minimlze the number of .pro-. jections jin the vestibule 'of a passenger coach, without impairing the fu nctlons of either of the devices.

To the accomplishment of the; recited objects and others coerdinate therewith, the preferred embodiment of myinvention resides in that construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and embraced within the scope of the appended claims.

in saiddra'wingsz Figure 1 is aside elevation of the inside of a vestibule illustrating the general arrangement of the combined grab-iron and trap-door fastening, the front of the vestibule being entirely removedto more clearly show the invention. Fig. 2-

is a vertical sectional elevation of the fass tenin shown in operative position'with respect to-the upperedge of the. trap-door. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the knob containing the fastening device, and Fig. 4 is a side Referring more particularly to the drawings for a detail description of my invention the numeral 1 designates a pair of doors arranged centrally of the vestibule of an ordinary passenger coach, upon either side and at the bottom of which are arranged t-rap-doors,as 2 and 3 connected at their lower edges, by hinges 4 to the floor of the car. Each trap-door is provided with a diagonally disposed grab-iron 5, and above the trap-door 2 is located a substantially right angular shaped grab-iron 6, the ver-,

tical portion thereof lying adjacent one of the central doors 1 and being suitably sus- ,tiUHQCl. by the supports 7, while the horizontal extremity is disposed in parallelism with the upper edge of the trap-door 2 and terminates in a knob, as 8. 'Above the com panion trap-door 3 is the usual switchbox door 9, upon the base of which is secured a short length of grab-iron 10, preferably by the support 11 and the knob 12. If desired, a grab-iron, as 13, may be fastened upon the opposite side of the central doors 1 to correspond with the vertically arranged portion 6 of the first mentioned grab-iron.

The lrnobs 8 and 12 are identical in construction and arrangement, and a descriptionof one w1ll sutlice for both. Upon referring to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be noted that the sliankl i of the knob is provided at the I Patented Feb. 4c, 1 9i 3; Application filed ma 17, 1912 serial No. eeaoas top with an elongated slot 15 and at the bottom diametrically opposite the first ment-ioned slot, with a shorterslot, as 16, both of the slots being disposed longitudinally of the shank proper. Theseslots are designed to recelve ztspring'latch 17, the same being pivotally secured at its outer end by the transversely extending pin 18. The inner portion of the latch 17 terminates in an upwardly formed or projecting ring 19 to facilitate manipulation of the device, and an angular projection 20 is formed integral I with the opposite extremity of the latcln the same normally lying in the path of movement of the upper edge of the trap-door 3. Just below the knob 12' and upon the face of the outer extremity of the latch 17 are arranged a pair of recesses 21 and 22 for the reception of a coil spring 23 for normally maintaining the said latch in active position. Adjacent the base of the shank 14 is a depending fiange 24; designed to sustain a buffer, as 25, formed of rubber or any equivalent material which will serve as a cushion. I

In operation when the door 3 is swung upwardly it engages the outer edge or projection 20 of the lat/ch17, forcing the latter outwardly against thetension of the spring 22 until it rides completely over said projeclower extremity will be tion, whereupon the retractile force of the spring will cause the latch to' resume its nor mal position with the projection 20 in front and in the path of movement ofv the upper edge of the trap-door. In order to minimize sudden shocks or jars the butter 25 is provided so that the same will be thoroughly absorbed. Obviously, when it is desired to swing the door in operative position the finger is simply inserted through the ring 19 and the latch 17 pulled upwardly disengage the projection 20 from the edge of the trapdoor.

In Figs. 5, 6, 7 andS a slightly modified form of my invention is illustrated, the same comprising the combination of trap-door fastening means with a vertically arranged corner grab-iron, as 26. In this case the fastening consists of a horizontally arranged projection 27 having a curved base 28, the said projection being bifurcated at its outer end to receive the lower extremityof the latch 29, a pin, as 30, being extended transverselythrough the members constituting the bifurcation to pivot-ally secure the latch. A spring 31 is seated in recesses 32 and 33, respectively, of the lower extremity of the latch and the projection 27, while the upper extremity is formed to present a hook 33 and the lower end designed to engage the upwardly curved keeper 34: carried by the trap-door 35, which latter is of a slightly different type from that hereinbeforedescribed.

The operation of the fastening device just described is practically the same as that of the other devices. WVhen the door is swung upwardly the outer end of the keeper 34 impinges against the lower extremity of the latch 29, and rides over the same'and assumes v the position illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Upon constraining the upper hook like portion 33 of the latch outwardly the disengaged from the keeper, and the door may then be readily adjusted in active position.

It should be understood that in its broader aspect thev invention comprehends the employment not only of the various means described, but of equivalent means for performing the recited functions. While the arrangement shown is thought at the preshaving a supporting knob, of a trapdoor,

and a latch projecting through opposite sides of saidknob and adapted to engage said door.

3. The combination with a trap-door of a support,.a spring pressed latch carried by said support and projecting above the top and. below the bottom of the latter, the up per portion constituting a handle andthe presenting catch for said lower portion trapdoor.

4-. The coinbmatlon with a grab-iron rail having a supporting knob, ofa trap-door,

said knob carrying a shank, a latch mounted in said shank and adapted to engage said trap-door. 5. A grab-iron rail having a support, and a latch carried by and projecting upon opposite sides of the support to present an opcrating handle and a trap-door engaging extremity.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- WILLIAM H. MUSSEY. lVitnesses:

ROBT. .N. MILLER,- R. H. ALLEN. 

